Turnbull asked for NBN Co board resignations
While news emerged yesterday that the entire NBN Co board put in their resignation, new reports today are confirming that Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull had asked for the resignations.
It is seemingly one of the first things that Turnbull did, having made the request for the resignations on Thursday, a day after being sworn into parliament, and before an NBN Co board meeting last Friday.
Turnbull has long been highly critical of the NBN Co, blaming executives and the board, in particular chairwoman Siobhan McKenna for the delays and cost blowouts of the national broadband network (NBN) project.
Brad Orgill is the only board member who did not tender his resignation yesterday, according to a report from the Australian Financial Report.
The chosen three
With the NBN Co board clearing out, Turnbull is looking to appoint Ziggy Switkowski as the new chairman, saying earlier this month that "[Switkowski] would be very well qualified to be chairman of the NBN Co".Turnbull is expected to ask current NBN Co board members Kerry Schott and Alison Lansley to stay on, according to the AFR, with the three taking on the immediate management of the NBN project until more directors are appointment over time.
A minimum of three is required for the board, with Turnbull needing approval from the Prime Minister's office to appoint board members.
This three-man NBN Co board is expected to take charge of a strategic review of the current state of the NBN within the next two months, before the NBN Co decides on how best to change the previous fibre-to-the-premises network to the new government's fibre-to-the-node plan.
The new board will also be required to renegotiate with Telstra for access to its copper network and ducts.
- Want to keep up to date with the NBN project change over? The check out our handy NBN guide.
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Hands-on review: Microsoft Surface Pro 2
Microsoft is taking a second stab at the table market with the introduction of the new Surface Pro 2. On the surface, the new tablet looks almost completely identical to its predecessor, but Microsoft claims the Pro 2 is so powerful that it will make you think twice about buying your next laptop.
The Surface Pro 2 headlined a New York press event where Microsoft showed off two new Windows Surface tablets, the other being the Surface 2.
The Surface Pro is a 10.6-inch tablet running Intel's latest Haswell chip, which will give it some appreciable speed and battery life. We took a spin with the new Surface Pro 2 to see if it's really worth its $899 (£719, about AU$951) starting price.
In hand, the Surface 2 feels a lot like the old model. Aside from being slightly thinner, there aren't many new added touches to the exterior. But looking like the old Surface Pro isn't entirely a bad thing.
It's a hefty device for sure, and there's nothing chintzy about the Pro 2's magnesium body. It even keeps the slightly soft finish to it give you plenty of grip.
Turning on the device takes you to the Surface Pro 2's 1920 x 1080 resolution screen. It's the same as the original Surface Pro's resolution, though Microsoft claimed the tablet can support external resolutions up to 3840 x 2160 pixels.
In use
The HD screen combined with the speed of the on-board Core i5 chip make for a smooth Windows 8.1 ride. Modern style tiles glide across the screen and applications snap into view.
The whole experience on Surface Pro 2 was just snappier than we've experienced on a Surface before. We would say it was almost as fast as an Ultrabook, which does fit into Microsoft's strategy of trying to pack a full-blown PC into a tablet.
Once we had the tablet set up with a battery cover and the docking station, it really was like being back at a workstation, albeit with a much smaller screen.
Power isn't the only thing the Surface Pro 2 has going for it. The new Intel chip will also help keep the tablet running faster plus more efficiently. A Microsoft representative told us that the up to 75% battery boost could yield seven hours of operation time for the Pro 2, a time that can be further extended with the machine's new battery cover.
The Power Cover accessory is said to be capable of adding up to 60% more battery life to the device, though our source said the Pro 2 does have enough to go up to 12.5 hours with the cover.
Though the tablet weighs two pounds, it's still weighty and can feel like a brick after carrying it around for an extended period of time. It might be ideal for long periods of sitting (international flights) or occupying a spot on your desk at home, not necessarily for shuttling around from locale to locale.
A kick in the stand
Perhaps the greatest game changer can be found on the backside of the Pro 2.The kickstand can now be adjusted to two positions. On top of snapping the kickstand into its initial position, you can now orient it into a more slouched position designed for on-lap use. It's all a bit silly but the new position offered us a much comfortable typing arrangement while we were seated sans-desk.
Thankfully, we didn't have to awkwardly crane our necks back and further away from the screen while we balanced the tablet and fold up keyboard on our laps.
Early verdict
Overall, the Surface Pro 2 comes across as another device being taken through the yearly refresh process. It's received some reactive, though not unwelcome, updates to keep up with the completion. It's a solid device, but so was the Surface Pro.The added upgrades can't be ignored. With an far better power and much improved battery life, the Surface Pro 2 should be on the top of your buy list if you're in the market for a Windows 8.1 tablet. The price is steep, but you do get plenty of machine for your money.
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Review: Updated: LG G2
Introduction, hardware and design
The LG G2 is the beastly smartphone that is LG's answer to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One. It's a massive, yet not entirely unwieldy, smartphone brimming with specs that would make the most discerning geeks drool.So far, LG has been a distant cry from where Samsung and HTC find themselves in terms of popularity and smartphone ownership. And between the latter two, Samsung is really dominating the space.
With the G2, it seems like LG took a lot of cues from its Korean counterpart and built what many called a Galaxy S4 clone. It's large, made of lots of plastic, shaped similarly and is jam-packed with more features than a single person can handle.
During its New York City presentation, we were a little baffled at what LG decided to highlight as the G2's key features. The first and most evident is the placement of the power button and volume control keys.
LG went to great lengths to explain how it was listening to customers and observing their usage patterns. Somehow it all led to the awkward placement of those buttons, along with a few other things the phone can do.
Can the LG outgun and outsell the Galaxy S4 and HTC One? It'll be tough without a massive marketing campaign, but let's take a look at how the phone itself fares against its Android competitors.
Hardware
Diving right into what powers the LG G2 and makes it purr, you'll first notice a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display, which gives us a 424 PPI density. The chipset inside is a Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800, with a 2.26GHz quad-core Krait 400. In terms of processing power, it seems that the G2 is in no short supply.It comes in 16GB and 32GB variants, with 2GB RAM. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, Infrared port and 4G LTE.
The camera on back is a 13MP shooter with a small LED flash. Like other high-end Android smartphones, it has a few tricks up its sleeves, too, but we'll get into that in our camera section.
LG also made a big deal out of the battery in this thing, which is a 3,000mAh Li-Po (Lithium Polymer) battery. It's shaped in such a way that it takes up as much space as it can in the phone.
To make more sense of it, curved backs tend to create more unused space for flat batteries. If you allow the battery to take advantage of the curvature of the phone, you effectively get a slightly bigger battery.
Design
Despite being a 5.2-inch display device, the LG G2 is very manageable in the hand. It still takes a reach to get your thumb diagonally across the screen, but it's not so huge that it becomes cumbersome.To undiscerning eyes, it can be quite hard to tell the difference - at least on the face of it - between the G2 and the Samsung Galaxy S4. One can argue that there is only so much you can do with the modern-day smartphone form factor, but then again HTC and Motorola have very distinct designs.
The edges of the device are clean, free of volume controls and a power button. The bottom edge of the phone has a 3.5mm headset jack, micro-USB port and a speaker and microphone.
The G2's backside is the business end of the phone. LG decided to put the volume buttons and power button just underneath the camera module. The button design varies a little based on your carrier model, but they all do the same thing.
LG says its the reason the volume and power keys were placed on the back is because that's where your finger naturally wants to rest when you're talking on your phone. Perhaps that's true for some, but not all.
Moreover, it becomes more uncomfortable and awkward when you aren't on the phone and you're feeling around for the buttons. In order to get enough pressure onto the power button, you have to hold the G2 a little awkwardly and make sure you get the correct leverage.
Perhaps in time the power/volume button situation will become easier to deal with, but we don't think you should ever have to. It should just be easy.
Even during the first few days, the button situation became rather infuriating. We couldn't turn the phone on or off blindly find the power button. Whenever we tried turning the phone off or on, we'd end up adjusting the volume somehow, or vice versa.
Aside from the power/volume buttons and the camera module, the backside is emblazoned with carrier logos and LG's branding. But otherwise, there isn't a whole lot more going on back there.
Up front you won't find any physical buttons at all. The back, home and menu buttons are all soft keys on the display, and will respond with haptic feedback unless you disable it.
Overall, the design of the LG G2 is nice, with the exception of the placement of the power and volume buttons. And although we're not particularly fond of an all-plastic body, it's not so bad here in this case.
Interface, performance and battery life
Custom interfaces for Android can be hit or miss, but they're getting better over time. HTC One's Sense 5 is excellent, and Motorola's new UI - a far cry from the horrible Blur or Motoblur - is unobtrusive and Samsung is getting there. Sort of.LG's UI for the G2 is attractive enough, and it has its conveniences. Buttons and options come up where you'd like them to be, and customization options are plenty.
When you power on the device, you'll find that there are five home screens to customize. Android 4.2.2 widgets are available, but LG has thrown in a small handful of its own widgets in there, too.
Let's take one step back and chat about the lock screen. Like many Android devices, there are a number of shortcuts easily accessible from the lock screen, like the phone, messages, camera and more. You can customize this, of course, but it's pretty convenient when you want to get to certain apps the second you power on the G2.
If you're already familiar with Android, navigating the LG UX will be intuitive enough for you. And like other custom Android interfaces, the LG G2 has some tricks up its sleeve, too.
One feature that LG users will be familiar with is QSlide, which is a multitasking feature exclusive to LG handsets. It allows you to run two apps simultaneously, and while that sounds to be a bit much for smartphones, it can come in handy when you're reading or watching videos on your phone.
QSlide allows an active app to shrink down and become transparent - you can control its transparency with a slider - while you work in another app or browse through the home screen or apps page.
It's a nice feature to have, but like the dual-window multitasking feature on the Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, we didn't find ourselves using it much.
To quickly access the QSlide feature, you simply pull down the notification tray from the top bar. Doing so will also reveal your notifications and system shortcuts. From here, you can quickly access Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and adjust brightness, too. There are a number of shortcuts here, and you can edit a few of them if you'd like.
Accessing apps is as easy as tapping the apps button on the home screen. If you want to download more apps, simply sign into the device with your Google account - it's easiest to do this by setting up your Gmail account - and you can start downloading apps, videos, games, books and more from the Google Play store.
The apps screen is easy to navigate and swipes left to right like most other Android devices except some HTC devices.
From the apps screen, you'll also have quick access to the phone's widgets. Simply tap on the Widgets tab up top and you can choose the ones you want to add to your home screens.
Interestingly, tapping on the gear button in the apps screen doesn't take you into the phone's settings as you might expect. Instead, it gives you the option to customize the apps screen, whether that means rearranging them or creating folders.
From there, you'll also be able to delete apps. Simply hit the gear button in the app screen, then tap the red "X" that shows up next to the app (kind of like the iPhone). From there, you'll be prompted to uninstall the app. It's much easier than going into Settings, Apps and then trying to find the app you want to uninstall.
Whether you're familiar with Android or not, the LG G2 has a little something for everyone. The UI or UX is easy enough for novice and expert smartphone users alike, and in just a few days you'll be poking around the device with ease.
Performance
Because the LG G2 is equipped with such a powerful chipset and plenty of RAM, performance is excellent. In normal, everyday use, there is never any lag and it certainly doesn't ever crash. Apps open quickly, and transitioning between apps is a breeze.
If you're multitasking with QSlide, the phone still runs beautifully. We sometimes think that something like the 2.26GHz quad-core Krait CPU is a little overkill for the average user's needs, but with more demanding apps, it's certainly nice to have it.
We really tried to push the G2 by running videos and fiddling around with other apps at the same time, and the smartphone still worked like a charm. We're very pleased with the overall performance of the device and give LG props on that.
After several days of testing and constant pushing, the device never crashed. When we find ourselves using a device, and later coming to the realization that the experience was quite boring, it also means that it was smooth.
Generally, what sticks out to us most during a phone's review period is when it crashes or misbehaves in any observable way. We didn't run into that issue at all with the LG G2, so it seems that all that power under the hood has been put to good use.
Battery life
Battery life on the LG G2 is excellent. Although it doesn't have the same capacity as battery monsters like the Motorola DROID MAXX, it holds its own.LG made a big deal out of taking up more internal space by staggering its battery shape within the device. As the back curves, the battery staggers or pyramids a little in shape to take advantage of what would otherwise be empty space.
With relatively heavy use (e-mail, social network, phone calls, messaging and some gaming) and all push notifications turned on, along with GPS and Wi-Fi on most of the day, the LG G2 showed no signs of being anywhere near death by the time the work day was over.
We unplugged the device from its charger at around 8AM on average, and found that we'd still have about 25-30% battery life by the time we went to bed, which was around midnight. That's impressive.
Camera
The camera on the LG G2 is excellent. We're very picky when it comes to how a device's camera performs, and we were very satisfied with the LG G2's camera.It seems that manufacturers are really putting a strong emphasis on imaging these days. HTC, Nokia and Apple have stressed the strengths of their imaging systems - whether it's bigger pixels, larger sensors, better optics and image stabilization, the competition is a win-win for the consumer.
The 13MP shooter you'll find on the G2 will more than suffice for anything you could ever want to shoot with a smartphone. Whether you're shooting your lunch to post on Instagram, or a bathroom selfie for Facebook, the G2's camera won't disappoint.
It performs well in low light, optical image stabilization, or OIS, helps with both stills and video and detail and color are excellent.
By default, when you power on the camera, everything is set to auto. Focus is clustered in the middle with a number of focus points, but you can also tap to focus if you like.
There are a number of scenes to choose from, like Normal, HDR, Burst shot, Panorama and more, and another scene section that includes Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Night and others.
The camera's settings offer a number of customization options. You can adjust exposure compensation, focus modes, ISO, white balance and more.
You'll also have the option for using the volume buttons to activate the shutter, but we would recommend against this due to its awkward placement and proximity to the lens. We don't know why LG would've included this option.
LG G2 image quality
Photos look sharp and clear. Colors are excellent, especially when you shoot in good light, and details are incredible. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the processing, sharpening and everything else the G2 does with the 13MP images.HDR looks natural, but as with HDR photos that look more natural, you can still lose a lot of details in highlights and shadows if the scene's dynamic range is dramatic.
In terms of what we've come to expect from a smartphone camera, there really isn't anything to complain about with the LG G2. It doesn't have the same issues with metering that the Moto X and DROID Ultra, and it keeps more details than the HTC One thanks to its huge megapixel count. Perhaps it's only trumped by the iPhone for image quality, and the Lumia 1020 for image quality and low-light performance. That's not so bad.
We're also happy to see that the tap-to-focus will meter for the selected area. Some other Android devices will only focus, and you have to manually change exposure, which can become annoying.
Overall, still images are excellent. That leaves video. Video quality from the LG G2 camera is great. Optical image stabilization helps quite a bit, though you still have to keep a steady hand. It isn't as good as the Lumia 1020's stabilization system, but it works well enough and beats the iPhone in terms of steadiness and smoothness.
Colors and video quality look good, although sound could be better. Sound quality is always something that needs a lot of work on a smartphone, but there's only so much that can be done with the physical constraints. A microphone placed on the body of a camera, situated several feet away from an audio source, will never sound as good as having dedicated microphones. However, for what you might be shooting with a smartphone, it works just fine.
That's one thing to keep in mind when you're being bombarded with these great camera claims from smartphone manufacturers. In the end, these are still just smartphone cameras. If you're looking for real, solid image quality, you'd go for a compact system camera or DSLR. And if you want to shoot great video, a DSLR or dedicated video camera will be your best bet.
As we saw in the shootout between the Lumia 1020, iPhone 5 and Olympus E-PL5, a real camera system still blows smartphone cameras out of the water.
Camera Samples
The above was a very bright street scene, and yet the camera managed to keep the color and exposure of the sky looking nice.
This arcade photo above was taken in our office, and the photo doesn't really do reality justice. It was much darker than how it appears in that photo, and with little noise, we can say the LG G2 does OK in low light.
The above is an HDR photo. As you can see, this is a very extreme case with very dark shadows and incredibly bright highlights. Still, the image looks good compared to the actual scene.
We love that the LG G2 seems to retain color in the sky, whereas other smartphones tend to blow them out and turn them whiter.
Verdict
We really like the LG G2. It's one of the better Android smartphones you can buy right now. The screen is large and gorgeous, and because the display almost reaches out to the very edges of the device, it doesn't feel any wider than it has to.Liked
Using the smartphone doesn't come with the headaches, hiccups and hangups that we get with other device, thanks mostly to the gorgeous display and powerful chipset.
So, is it all butterflies and roses for the LG G2?
Disliked
Well, no. The button placement drove us insane for the first few days, and it wasn't pretty. It's incredibly frustrating and takes some time to get used to.Adjusting volume when on a call was relatively easy if you spent enough time feeling around for the volume keys, but adjusting volume for watching videos is a total pain in the rear.
Whenever we needed to access the rear buttons, we had to feel around for them for a while, or we would just flip the phone over to look. In fact, we still do that now after testing the device for almost two weeks.
Eventually, you'll probably get used to the button placement, but it is hugely annoying.
We can take or leave the completely plastic build, too. LG typically makes smartphones with premium feel, and although nothing feels cheap about the G2, we wish that it had a soft touch or textured backside or body. The phone gets smudged with fingerprints very easily, which is only a minor complaint and definitely not a deal breaker.
Verdict
As far as Android smartphones go, you can do no wrong with the LG G2. If you can live with the awful button placement - and we don't see why you can't learn to deal with it - you'll come to love this phone.The G2 has everything you could ask for in a smartphone: solid camera, great performance, excellent battery life and a design we can live with.
What more could you possibly want in a smartphone?
What matters is your daily experience with the phone, and while we'll admit it wasn't the best with the button placement, this thing is slick once you get over that.
The real question is if there is any reason to buy the LG G2 over something like the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 or the Moto X. It's been some time since we've been able to say this, but there is good reason to buy the LG G2 over its competitors: display and performance.
The only thing that would've made this phone closer to perfect is if the buttons were placed where you'd normally find them, and where they're easier to reach.
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Hands-on review: Microsoft Surface 2
Move over, Surface RT. You've been replaced.
Of course, the Surface RT isn't actually going anywhere, but today at a press conference in New York Microsoft unveiled its next-gen tablets, the Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2. Apparently the original RT line was so smeared with failure, Microsoft decided to shuck the moniker for fear it would continue to keep customers away.
The Surface 2 comes with a much lower $449 (£359, about AU$279) launch price tag than the less-equipped Surface RT. That's already a check in the "improvement" box.
Microsoft looks to have learned its lesson and put out an updated device with a beefier 1080p screen, the entire Microsoft Office Suite pre-loaded, as well as a faster - but not fastest - speed 1.7GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 processor.
Hardware is one thing, but does the Windows 8.1 RT experience still drag down this upgraded slate? We find out in our hands on with the new Windows Surface 2.
Getting our hands on the Surface 2, the tablet instantly feels sturdier than the last iteration. It might be partially because the tablet is now made of just two magnesium pieces (the shell itself and the kickstand), but it simply feels like a thin, solid slate of silvered metal topped with glass, giving it a very industrial look.
Although the Surface 2 scales towards the larger-end of tablets with a 10.6-inch screen, it's light in the hand. Its weight certainly didn't distract us as we flicked across the screen while holding it one-handed, something we can't say about the device's more power-trained brother.
We also appreciated the new screen that's finally high-definition at 1920 x 1080 resolution. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon processor managed to keep up with all our application switching. We'll still reverse our final judgment on whether the processor is powerful enough after we've run the tablet through a few taxing games of Spartan Assault.
Peripherals
Oddly the most impressive pieces of tech to come out of the new Surface line were actually the new Touch and Type Covers.
The new, thinner Type Cover offers slightly quieter word processing for the tack-tack self-conscious library goers. But the real show stopper was the new Touch Cover. The cover lets you do even more with an array of 1,092 touch sensors, where as the old Touch Cover only packed 80.
The keyboard is more sensitive to your drumming finger and you can even glide your fingers all over the touch keys as it were Swype for Android.
Microsoft also unveiled a new touch-based music cover that lets you mix Skrillex with beats that react to how much pressure that you put on the sensor sheet. There are plans to release even more sheets, so we could see some very interesting uses of analog touch covers in the future.
Early verdict
It's still too early to say if the Microsoft Surface 2 is a safe Windows 8.1 RT tablet to stick with, especially after getting burned by the first semi-capable Surface RT. There's definitely a decent pairing of hardware compared to all the 10-inch tablets.It might not have the specs to compete with flagships like the iPad 4 and Nexus 10, but Microsoft certainly have given the Surface 2 a better fighting chance than the RT ever had. Thanks to Microsoft Office built-in and impressive accessories, including potentially more unique covers down the line, the Surface 2 is already off to a far better start than its predecessor.
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Updated: Apple TV update 6.0 firmware taken off of hiatus after initial snafu
Update: Aaand it's back.
It looks as though Apple has ironed out all the wrinkles of its crinkled Apple TV version 6.0 and has released yet another update today.
According to 9to5Mac, the new version is still called Apple TV Software 6.0, but the build number is new. It should, fingers crossed, bring all the perks of the original update, such as iTunes Radio, without bricking people's TVs.
Original story...
Even more scarce than the gold iPhone 5S are Apple TV owners not experiencing a problem with firmware version 6.0 that went out on Sept. 20.
Apple has pulled the Apple TV update due to the deluge of "hobby box" owners who complained that the new software permanently bricked their set-top box over the weekend.
A handful of others have complained about internet connection problems, something that has plagued Apple TV devices in the past and resulted in a recall earlier this year.
While TechRadar was able to successfully update to Apple TV 6.0, the download took approximately three minutes, but the install took an unusual 30 minutes to complete.
Apple has since suspended the update for all devices that are safely running Apple TV 5.3.
What you're missing
Apple TV update 6.0 isn't as a dramatic change like iOS 7, but it does add Apple's Pandora-like iTunes Radio service, the iTunes music store and Podcast syncing to the device.A successful update also brings about iCloud support, allowing users to view photos and videos shared with the the device through a photo stream or play a video from the iTunes cloud using an iOS device.
For now, these unavailable feature are all just a tease, or for a handful of bricked users a slap in the face.
We've contacted Apple in order to find out when a fixed Apple TV update 6.0 is expected.
- In better news for Apple, it sold a record number of iPhones.
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Early View: Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2
While Microsoft's Surface Pro portable gets the best reviews, the Surface RT is often ignored in favor of Apple iPads and quad-core Android tablets. It's hardly a surprise, the Surface RT looked good but didn't have enough technological ambition. Its fun and colorful snap-on keyboard wasn't a compelling reason to buy. So can the Surface 2 convince people that Windows 8.1 can deliver a great tablet experience? Or is Microsoft throwing another billion dollars down the drain? Find out here ...
Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Design
Microsoft hasn't made any dramatic changes to the smart-looking VaporMg design of the Surface. The Surface 2 looks the same as the original RT model and accommodates a similar 10.6-inch widescreen display. On paper, the revamped Surface 2 is thinner and lighter, measuring 274.6 x 172.5 x 8.9mm and weighing 676g. But compare this to the Surface RT's dimensions - 274.6 x 171.9 x 9.4mm, 680g - and you'll see that the difference is marginal.
More of a selling point is the new silver/white color (the Surface RT is black) and the redesigned, two-stage kickstand, giving you two different viewing angles. The internal speakers have also been improved and the Surface 2 can be plugged into the new Touch Cover 2, which features a backlight and 1,092 sensors for greater responsiveness - 1,012 more than the original Touch Cover. The new Touch Cover 2 also supports gesture controls should you want to wave at your Surface 2 tablet rather than touch it.
It's not the only accessory. The new Type Cover 2 improves the thin mechanical keyboard, offering snap-in magenta, cyan, purple and black options. Like the Touch Cover 2, the keyboard is backlit enabling you to work with the lights off. Finally, the Power Cover gives you a keyboard with a built-in battery that extends the battery life by up to 50%.
Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Display
While the 10.6-inch size of the ClearType display hasn't changed, Microsoft has boosted the original model's 1366 x 768 pixel screen resolution up to Full 1080p HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) on the Surface 2. Microsoft also claims that the color accuracy of the new display (which also appears on the new Surface Pro 2) is 50% better.Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Processor
Where the Surface RT launched with a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, the Surface 2 gets a jump in processing power with a new 1.7GHz quad-core Tegra 4 chip that incorporates 72 GPU cores (compared to the Tegra 3's 12).Crucially, this processor upgrade should eliminate the annoying lag that often plagued the Surface RT. Microsoft demonstrated its number-crunching prowess at launch by simultaneously running Office RT apps in the background while playing Halo: Spartan Assault.
Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: OS and software
As expected, Surface 2 comes with the RT version of Windows 8.1, which features new snap views, different sized tiles, and a host of other improvements.Surface 2 also includes Microsoft Office (as did the original RT model) with Outlook, plus the "best of Skype" for a year, which gives Surface 2 owners free international calling and free WiFi. New owners will also get 200GB of SkyDrive storage for two years.
On top of all this, Surface 2 will naturally benefit from the availability of more apps - there are now more than 100,000 in the Windows Store, compared to only 10,000 when the Surface RT launched.
Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: memory and storage
Not much change here. Both the Surface RT and its look-alike successor come with 2MB of RAM and are available with 32GB or 64GB of onboard storage. The two models feature the same SDXC card slot.Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Connectivity
In terms of wireless connectivity, the Surface RT shipped with 802.11/a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 - no 3G or LTE connectivity. The Surface 2 doesn't do any better, even though the Tegra 4 can support an LTE chipset.There is a small difference in the physical connections - where the Surface RT featured a full-size USB 2.0 port, the Surface 2 incorporates a faster USB 3.0 slot. The rest of the specifications - headset jack, HD video out, ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, digital compass and the Cover port - remain the same.
Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Camera
The original Surface RT came equipped with a 5MP rear camera and a disappointing VGA front cam for grainy video calling. The Surface 2 doesn't change the raw megapixel count of its main camera, but does upgrade the front-facing lens with a superior one-third-inch image sensor (for better results in low lighting conditions) and a 3.5MP count.Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Battery life
Microsoft promises a battery life that's capable of up to 10 hours of video playback - a 25% improvement over the Surface RT. It's not the most impressive of improvements, but it's worth remembering that the Tegra 4 CPU has given the Surface 2 a considerable speed boost. Besides, 10 hours+ of battery life keeps Microsoft's tablet on a par with Apple's iPad and leading Android tablets.Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Price
How much? The Surface RT sells for $349 and the Surface 2 is $100 more expensive at $449. U.K. pricing has yet to be announced. The new Surface 2 launches on October 22.Microsoft Surface RT vs Surface 2: Early verdict
Microsoft has been keen to point out that the Surface 2 isn't a complete revamp of the first RT model and the changes might seem minor. But it does address some of the criticisms that we had of the original Surface, namely: a poor selection of apps, an unimpressive display, a heavy build and sluggish graphical performance.The new model has superior processing power, a higher resolution display and the Surface 2 benefits from running Windows 8.1. It also ships with the full complement of Office apps and the 32GB model is also $50 cheaper than a 16GB iPad.
So what's not to like? Windows RT still has the potential to confuse buyers who will expect the Surface 2 to act like a full-blown Windows computer and the price difference isn't enough to tempt tablet buyers away from the obvious alternatives.
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Opinion: Surface 2 extends Microsoft's Windows RT long game - for now
In many ways, Microsoft's Surface 2 was the company's big chance to prove that Windows RT deserves its place in the world.
Has it taken it? Well, sort of.
Let's face it: Surface RT and other Windows RT devices have been up against it for some time now, and for good reason.
They can't run legacy Windows programs, which is a valid concern considering the Windows Store is lacking a whole heap of apps from big name developers.
For this reason, Microsoft has always had a hard time convincing people that the Surface RT is worth the investment - particularly in the face of the Surface Pro that can run full-fat Windows 8 apps and looks almost exactly the same on the outside.
Two paths
So what options did Microsoft have with the Surface 2 to help Windows RT? Dropping the RT moniker was a good start.After that, Microsoft had two potential routes to go down: improve what's already there, or go in the opposite direction of making the device less premium to sell it at a lower price point.
The second option could have been a real tactical boon. Why not forego the (admittedly luxurious) VaporMg casing for something a little less premium?
The Surface 2 would have led the way for other Windows RT devices to at least compete with lower-priced Atom-powered devices that run full-fat Windows 8 while proving a serious alternative to 7-inch tablets.
Think about it: a new, cheaper Surface with Windows 8.1, an improved kickstand, a generous Skype calling package, 200GB of free SkyDrive storage and Office 2013 thrown for under £200. I'd buy it, and I'd bet I wouldn't be the only one.
Surface gloss
As we now know, Microsoft didn't go down this road. Instead, it chose to make a Surface 2 with improved hardware and a few bonus cloud services on the hope that they will gloss over Windows RT's limited functionality.They won't, but they will help. Having a 1080p display will improve anything from gaming to viewing photos, reading, and holding video calls using Skype.
The extra screen real estate will also help when using Windows 8.1's improved app snapping. And nobody has ever complained about a device being given 25% more battery life.
Long game
But at the end of the day, you feel that Microsoft had little choice but to make those improvements just to continue its Windows RT long game.The company clearly believes the platform can still be a success over time, but it can't afford to stand still and do nothing in the face of a never-ending onslaught of competing tablets and convertibles.
Whether Surface 2 and its subsequent iterations will be given that time to convince people that there is a value proposition to be found with buying a Windows RT device remains to be seen.
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Microsoft plans to launch Surface 2 with LTE early next year
A version of the just-announced Surface 2, which stands as the next-gen Surface RT, will launch with LTE support early next year.
The news of an LTE-lapping Surface 2 came from Microsoft Vice President of Surface Panos Panay during a post-event Reddit Ask Me Anything session.
"Why was LTE not included on neither Surface nor Surface Pro?" posed one participant.
"Great question," Panay responded. "We didn't talk about it today, but Surface 2 will be launching an awesome LTE SKU early next year!
"Nice catch on your part, no one else has asked this question...... what better way to tell people than through Reddit!!"
Whoa, excitement.
Surface 2, too?
While Panay probably chose his words carefully, it's not completely clear whether Panay was referring to the Surface 2, which runs Windows 8.1 RT, or the more better specced Surface Pro 2, or both.Redditors asked for clarification, but Panay nor other Surface Team members have responded.
Both tablets were announced today as follow-ups to the Surface RT and Surface Pro, and neither supports LTE.
We asked Microsoft to clear things up and were told the company has nothing more to add beyond "what was shared in the Reddit chat."
If LTE does indeed come to the lower-level Surface 2, it'd be a nice boon for customers who've been clamoring for high-speed connectivity.
Update: Microsoft's LTE ambitions may be even bigger than Panay let on. According to Mary Jo Foley at ZDNet, Microsoft might be considering bundling Windows Phone with Surface. It would serve as a solution to areas where built-in wireless support for the Surface is problematic.
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BlackBerry C-series 'Americano' might combine best of the Z and Q
BlackBerry isn't doing so hot, with losses and layoffs in its future, but the latest leak says that its next scrabbling handhold on the receding cliff face of profitability is a new budget line called the BlackBerry C-series.
The BlackBerry C (code name: Americano) is said to combine the best existing BlackBerry 10 devices like the Z- and Q-series phones: sleek design with budget specs, respectively.
That will keep the BlackBerry C series looking fresh to consumers while appealing with a lower price point than the high-end Z-line, like the just-announced BlackBerry Z30. Or at least, that's reportedly the idea.
If it's true, the Americano will be mucking about in the just-released iPhone 5C's neck of the sea, which may not be the best place to tread water right now.
The leaks keep flowing
News broke today that BlackBerry has agreed to an initial offer that could see it bought and taken private again by a group led by financial holdings company.That pretty-big-deal news didn't stop leaks of its alleged smartphone plans, however.
As far as detailed specs, we've got little to go on where the BlackBerry C is concerned, besides the promise of specs similar to the chunky, QWERTY-equipped, budget-priced BlackBerry Q5.
Besides that, the only morsel is that the initial BlackBerry C-series device will reportedly have a full-sized 4.2-inch 720 x 1280 touchscreen, no QWERTY and 4G LTE compatibility.
The phone is said to be in testing stages currently.
Inevitable comparisons
Word of the BlackBerry C-series fits perfectly with the company's recent admission that it will back off from the consumer market soon and release just four new phones in the future, instead of the previously planned six.Of those four unannounced devices, two are high-end offerings and two are entry-level phones, like what the BlackBerry C is being described as.
Comparisons with the iPhone 5C will be inevitable (imagine if they call it the BB C5?), but the "budget" iPhone has done pretty well for itself since its launch alongside the iPhone 5S this past weekend.
Combined sales for both new iPhones hit 9 million in just three days, though Apple isn't detailing the exact split and TechRadar's digging indicates tentatively that the higher-end iPhone 5S is, in fact, in greater demand.
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Updated: BlackBerry actually finds a suitor, agrees to initial offer that would take it private
BlackBerry is close to once again becoming a private company after signing a letter of intent agreement to be bought. The suitor in the situation is a group led by a financial holdings company.
The deal between BlackBerry and group spearheaded by Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is worth approximately $4.7 billion (about £2.93b, AU$4.98b) at $9 per share (about £6, AU$10) in cash for all of the shares that Fairfax doesn't already own.
"We believe this transaction will open an exciting new private chapter for BlackBerry, its customers, carriers and employees," said Fairfax Chairman and CEO Prem Watsa in a press release today.
He said it would continue "a long-term strategy in a private company with a focus on delivering superior and secure enterprise solutions to BlackBerry customers around the world."
Fairfax currently owns about 10% of BlackBerry's common shares.
What's next?
According to the same press release, the company's board of directors approved the letter of intent on the recommendation of the special committee BlackBerry created last month to explore "strategic alternatives" to its current, failing situation.A due diligence period is in place, though the parties hope to have everything wrapped up by Nov. 4. Until then, BlackBerry can "actively solicit, receive, evaluate and potentially enter negotiations with parties that offer alternative proposals."
"The special committee is seeking the best available outcome for the company's constituents, including for shareholders," said Barbara Stymiest, chair of BlackBerry's board of directors, in the release.
"Importantly, the go-shop process provides an opportunity to determine if there are alternatives superior to the present proposal from the Fairfax consortium."
The press release noted that the transaction is far from a done deal as due diligence may prove unsatisfactory, financing must still be secured, regulators have to give the go-ahead and a definitive agreement must be finalized.
Still, the wheels are definitely in motion for BlackBerry's ownership to change hands.
A way out
The phone maker has had a volatile few months after the launch of BlackBerry 10, including a Sept. 20 announcement in which it admitted it needed to pull back from the consumer market and focus on enterprise.In the same announcement, it revealed it expects a net operating loss of about $950 million to $995 million for the second quarter of this year. That's roughly £592m/AU$1.01b to £621m/AU$1.05b.
Adding insult to injury, BlackBerry said it would lay off 4,500 employees, or about 40% of its workforce.
The company also had to hit pause on an anticipated app roll out, BBM app for iOS and Android devices.
All of these deep cuts could stem BlackBerry's losses, but its lack of a particularly appealing product on the consumer or enterprise level has left people wondering: how did BlackBerry last this long?
Come Nov. 4, it may have finally found its way out.
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Valve announces SteamOS, Steam Box still in the running for reveal this week
Well, it's not quite hardware, but say hello to Valve's SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system designed to bring PC gaming to the living room.
"SteamOS combines the rock-solid architecture of Linux with a gaming experience built for the big screen," wrote the company when its official website's countdown ticker, started Sept. 20, reached zero.
The benefits of Steam OS, according to Valve, include having your favorite games, online friends, and all the features of Steam, only now at the heart of an operating system designed for the big screen.
It's also free, which is a boon for users and manufacturers who want to easily license the platform that already has thousands of compatible games and millions of users via the Steam client.
As Valve put it, "We've come to the conclusion that the environment best suited to delivering value to customers is an operating system built around Steam itself."
SteamOS will be available "soon" as a standalone operating system for living room machines, the company said.
SteamOS features
SteamOS will work with "any living room machine," plus let users stream Linux games from their Windows and Mac computers to a SteamOS machine.According to Valve, it reached "significant performance increases in graphics processing" with SteamOS, and now it's focused on improving audio performance and reducing input latency on the system level. The company teased that game developers are already using SteamOS' perks in creating new titles.
The platform thrives on openness, which Valve takes to mean letting hardware makers iterate in the living room at a much faster clip than they're currently able to, among others facets.
"Content creators can connect directly to their customers," Valve explained. "Users can alter or replace any part of the software or hardware they want. Gamers are empowered to join in the creation of games they love."
While in-home streaming is one focal point of SteamOS, Valve said it's also working on bringing music, TV and movie streaming to the new operating system. Family sharing and family options, like parental control, are also part of the SteamOS offering.
All four features will make it over to the regular Steam system.
Prelude to Steam Box?
SteamOS may foreshadow Valve's own, the long-teased Steam Box.While the company didn't announce living-focused gaming and entertainment equipment today, a Steam Box announcement may not be too far off.
Right next to the expired SteamOS teaser is another countdown clock that started at 48 hours. And after Sept. 25's announcement, Valve is expected to host a third unveiling on its official website. We wouldn't be surprised if Valve decides to bookend the week with another announcement on Sept. 27.
In addition to Steam Box expectations, gamers are hoping that the company unveils Half-Life 3, the long-awaited sequel to the Gordon Freeman-helmed first-person shooter.
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Reaction: TechRadar Reacts: Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2
As expected, Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2 tablets today during an event in New York City.
The media gathered, the world watched, but do the follow-ups to the Surface Pro and Surface RT have what it takes to win over consumers, not the mention the discerning TechRadar team?
We're not looking at much different on the outside, though the Softies have crafted a few new covers and a nifty sounding docking station that might catch a few eyeballs.
More than anything, we're treated to rebooted internals, with a drive towards professional-grade performance. Do the new-fangled tabs hit all the right notes, or fall flat? The TechRadar team gives its reactions below, including a knee-jerk score on a scale of one through five.
Michelle - News Editor (US)
I have to say I'm impressed with what Microsoft put forth. It didn't go for a complete makeover of the struggling Surface line, but rather focused on revving up internals. The Surface still isn't sexy, but from a performance standpoint, the Surface Pro 2 could be the mobile workhorse people have been waiting for. The price is far too high but including Haswell, soaring battery life and jumpy graphics might take away some purchasing sting. As for the Surface 2, everything looks good on paper, but I struggle to see what has become an almost defiant purpose. It's better, but still pretty pointless.Surface 2 knee-jerk score: 2
Surface Pro 2 knee-jerk score: 3.5
Follow Michelle on Twitter!
Dan - Associate Editor (UK)
Surface 2 is much more powerful and a really good buy on the surface (!) of it, but there are two massive problems. The first is that Windows RT is still a screwdriver short of a toolbox. It is impossible to be consistently productive with it without employing workarounds. And that's because of the second thing: Windows apps are still so substandard compared to iOS or Android equivalents. And that's still a deal-breaker. I think Surface Pro 2 is by far the better of the two devices. It's the ultimate do-anything machine now the battery life is more decent thanks to Intel Haswell. But it remains expensive.Surface 2 knee-jerk score: 2
Surface Pro 2 knee-jerk score: 4
Follow Dan on Twitter!
Lily - Assistant Editor (US)
The Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 don't look very different from their earlier versions but as the old saying goes, it's what's on the inside that matters. And man, these tablets really have what it takes on the inside. With the Surface 2 rocking a new screen and Tegra 4 brain plus the Pro 2 upgrading its memory, hard drive and CPU, each machine seems to be a whole new powerful (and expensive) beast. If only Microsoft had included some fun, memorable extra features…Surface 2 knee-jerk score: 4
Surface Pro 2 knee-jerk score: 4
Follow Lily on Twitter!
Kane - Staff Writer (UK)
The Surface Pro 2 is the pick of the pair thanks to Haswell's extended battery life, but it's disappointing that Microsoft only managed to shave off 1mm thickness (thanks to a redesigned Type Cover). The dock is a very promising addition that brings the Surface Pro 2 closer to a complete portable PC replacement, which very much appears the future of computing.How the Surface 2 improves over its predecessor will very much boil to Windows 8.1 RT. Though welcome, a 1080p display, improved CPU and free SkyDrive storage will once again only go so far if the Windows Store fails to attract develop support. Microsoft should be commended for further slimming down the device to make it more portable, but it loses half a star for not being compatible with the dock.
Surface 2 knee-jerk score: 3
Surface Pro 2 knee-jerk score: 4
Follow Kane on Twitter!
Alex - Reviews Editor (US)
Finally! The Surface we should have had all along is here. Long lasting battery life plus even more juice in the Power Cover, and a kickstand that will (hopefully) let you use it on the couch or in bed.Hardware-wise, the Surface line seems to be living up to Microsoft's promise of tablets that can actually get work done, but I still think there are some trip ups as far as presentation goes. First off, having both a Surface 2 and a Surface Pro 2 is a bit head scratcher, and while Microsoft bundled some of its best services with the machine, like international Skyping and 200GB of Skydrive for two years, all I really want is Office.
Why is Office still just included with RT? For that matter, why is there still an RT? Stepping back from that can of worms I'll say that I'm optimistic overall and happy with the big M here, but had it bundled Office with the Pro and the 2 (and made it Metro optimized) I really would have been smiling.
Surface 2 knee-jerk: 4
Surface Pro 2 knee-jerk: 4
Follow Alex on Twitter!
Total Surface 2 knee-jerk score: 3
Total Surface Pro 2 knee-jerk score: 3.9
If there's a new product, you can bet the TechRadar team a reaction to it. Find out what else is firing through our synopsis:
- Did Samsung do right with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch?
- Apple's new flagship is here, but does the iPhone 5S live up to the hype?
- Two words - back buttons.
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Gary Marshall: Surface 2: better, but will it sell?
I despair at Microsoft, I really do. After the spectacular disaster of the Surface RT - a disaster that, let's not forget, cost Microsoft nearly a billion dollars in write-downs - the key new features of the second generation device are, in the order that they were revealed:
- It's a bit thinner
- It's a bit lighter
- It's a bit faster
- It has the word Surface on it in big letters
- The screen's better
- Did we say lighter?
- Also, it's thinner
- Ooh! Skydrive!
It was only available online and in Microsoft's handful of official stores. And it was hobbled by odd decisions such as limiting its business-friendly potential by keeping Outlook out of Office and having a no-commercial-use license.
Today, Microsoft launched its successor, the Surface 2.
It still doesn't have a Facebook app.
Is good enough good enough?
Thanks to the failure of the Surface RT, Microsoft is even further behind in tablets than it was a year ago: its reputation is tattered, its OEM partners aren't amused and both Apple and Google (and in the consumer space, Amazon) have been happily shifting tablets in quantities Microsoft can only dream of while the PC business slides further down the slope.To compete with that Microsoft needed to do more than give Surface a spec bump. It needed to address the fist-chewing idiocy that doomed Surface RT from the start.
I'm not sure that it has.
If you compare the pitch for the Surface Pro 2 and the Surface 2 you'll see what I mean. The Pro message was clear: this is the most powerful tablet around, and it's a monster. Feel the power!
But for the Surface 2, the pitch was unfocused. Is it a consumer tablet or a business one? Microsoft isn't sure, so the message was Halo vs multitasking, Skype vs saying "productivity" 500 times. It didn't work, and I think that confusion is going to be reflected in the wider market: if you considered a Surface RT last year and passed, you'll probably do the same with the Surface 2.
Microsoft has taken something that was arguably incompetent and refined it until it's reached the heady heights of adequacy and competence. That's an improvement, I know, but mere adequacy isn't going to put a minority tablet on top.
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Early View: Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad
The original Surface RT might not have set the world on fire, but Microsoft doesn't give up easily - and this week the Surface is back! Back! BACK!
The cunningly named Surface 2 drops the RT suffix and beefs up the screen and other key specs.
So how does it compare to its key rivals, Apple's iPad 4 and Asus's New Transformer Pad? Let's find out.
Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: processor
Microsoft's Surface 2 is powered by a 1.7GHz quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4, as is the New Transformer Pad - but Asus's tablet has the 1.9GHz version, not the 1.7GHz version. The iPad runs a dual-core Apple A6X with quad-core graphics.
Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: storage
The Surface 2 comes in a choice of 32GB and 64GB models, with 200GB of free SkyDrive cloud storage. The Transformer Pad will come in two variants, 32GB and 64GB (expandable via microSDXC and, via the dock, SDXC), while the iPad comes in four models: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB.
Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: display
The Surface 2 has a 10.6-inch, full HD ClearType display running at 1,920 x 1,080, which is around 200ppi. Asus's New Transformer Pad has a 10.1-inch IGZO-TFT display running at 2,560 x 1,600 resolution delivering 299 pixels per inch. The iPad has a Retina display, a 9.7-inch IPS panel running at 2,048 x 1,536. That's 264ppi.
Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: connectivity
The Surface 2 has 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0 and an HD video out port. The New Transformer Pad has 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 together with a micro-HDMI output capable of driving a 4K TV, with additional ports including USB 3.0 in its dock. The dock also boosts battery life by four hours. The iPad has 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, optional 3G/LTE and Apple's lightning connection for peripherals.Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: operating system
The Surface 2 runs Windows 8.1 RT, which includes Office 2013 RT - and this time that means Outlook too. The New Transformer Pad runs Android 4.2. The iPad runs iOS 7.
Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: cameras
The Surface 2 has a 3.5MP front facing camera and a 5MP, 1080p camera on the rear. The New Transformer Pad and the iPad both have 1.2MP cameras on the front and 5MP, 1080p cameras on the back.
Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: price
The Surface 2 will be £359 for the 32GB model. Asus hasn't confirmed pricing for the New Transformer Pad yet. Apple's iPad starts at £399 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model, rising to £739 for the 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular model.Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: release date
The Surface 2 will ship on the 22nd of October. We're still waiting for Asus to commit to a launch date. The iPad 4 is already on sale, and we're expecting to see a newer model next month.
Surface 2 vs iPad 4 vs new Asus Transformer Pad: early verdict
The
Surface 2 is a worthy entrant into this market, but still lacks a
decent ecosystem of apps. It is, however, competitively priced though
loses out in terms of screen specs to the iPad. The Transformer Pad is a
powerful tablet that offers the alternative of Android, but we just
don't know how much it will cost.
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Updated: Surface 2 release date, news and features
Surface 2 news and features
Microsoft has announced Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 at an event in New York.Surface Pro 2 features Windows 8.1, while Surface 2 will feature the Windows 8.1 retread of Windows RT, known as Windows 8.1 RT.
Surface chief Panos Panay claimed the new tablets could continue Surface helping "people get away from their iPad and be more productive".
We're long-time fans of Surface on TechRadar, even if we thought that Surface Pro was too expensive and Surface RT was too limited (due to the Windows Store app-dependent Windows RT).
Surface 2 is the new Surface RT
The faster, lighter and thinner 10.6-inch Surface 2 comes in black and silver and now features a 1080p Full HD display as well as an Nvidia Tegra 4 ARM-based processor.We'd expected it to be a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip, due to that company's relationship with Nokia and Windows Phone. However, Nvidia has been a Windows RT (Windows on ARM) partner from the start.
Microsoft thinks you'll get up to 10 hours of video playback out of the battery. As for cameras, we're looking at a 3.5MP front-mounted snapper and a 5MP lens on the back. There's also USB 3.0.
"We've added the Surface logo. You're using a Surface, you want people to know you're using a surface," Microsoft's Panos Panay said optimistically.
Surface 2 comes with Office
Surface 2 still comes with Microsoft Office 2013 on the desktop, but now boasts a special version of Outlook 2013 - Outlook RT. Panay demonstrated the processing power of Surface 2 by showing us all four Office apps running simultaneously.
Surface 2 price and release date
Surface 2 pre-orders open on September 24, with the 32GB model starting from £359 in the UK and $449 in the US. A 64GB model will also be available and it will cost £439 in the UK and $549 in the US.Although you can pre-order pretty soon, there's a bit of a wait for the actual tablet to materialise: the Surface 2 release date is set for October 22 in 22 initial markets, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
China will follow in early November. Additional countries will be announced in the coming months, says Microsoft.
Surface Pro 2 is the new Surface Pro
The latest-generation Intel Haswell Core i5-powered Surface Pro 2 features a 20 percent speed improvement and 50 per cent graphics bump as well as beefed up sound thanks to Dolby. The screen is the same ClearType HD display, but with 46 percent improved color accuracy.
The kickstand also has more angles it's positioned at 22 degrees, though you can readjust to 55 degrees), while battery power is 75 per cent up - we're pretty relieved about that, since the Surface Pro is pretty poor on battery life.
To demo the new and improved Surface Pro 2's PC-like capabilities, Microsoft edited raw 6K film, which has a resolution of nine times that of HD.
The Surface Pro 2 features 4GB/8GB memory configurations and 256GB and 512GB configurations.
Surface 2 accessories
But there will be new peripherals launched to go with the new Surface - including a Surface Docking Station, Surface Power Cover (with integrated 30W battery) and new colour Type Cover and Touch Cover colors. There's also a Car Charger with USB and an Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition.
The Surface Docking Station comes complete with three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 slot, a mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, audio In, audio Out and power.
The backlit Type Cover has 1mm taken out of the travel of the keys, so it's now almost as thin as the original Touch Cover.
Microsoft says the Power Cover brings the Surface Pro into the realm of all-day use (improves overall life by 2.5x), while the Surface Pro simply slides in and out of the Docking Station.
Surface Pro 2 price and release date
The Surface Pro 2 price starts at $899 in the US and £719 in the UK, available in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4GB of RAM. Bump it up to 8GB of RAM and the Pro 2 can come in 256GB and 512GB flavors.Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 come with free Skype calling
To help people get the most out of Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, Microsoft says that buyers will also get free Skype calling to landlines in more than 60 countries for one year plus unlimited Skype Wi-Fi and 200 GB of free SkyDrive storage for two years. That's pretty cool.
Original Surface problems
It seemed sure that a new Surface 2 running Windows RT was imminent due to price reductions and now Microsoft has sent out invites to the media for a New York City event which is now getting underway.Despite the many problems and drawbacks, Microsoft says it is committed to Windows on ARM, although a cynic would say that Windows Phone also runs on ARM, so it could be that Microsoft is referring to.
By general concensus the Surface RT hasn't done that well, although we've never been crystal clear on how many slates Microsoft has sold with RT.
But the fact there's now a price cut amounting to $150 per model (equal to £98, AU$163) and a $900 million accounting writedown in the company's financials is a sure sign the numbers aren't stellar.
Our earlier Surface 2 rumours
There continue to be rumours that the new Surface 2 could be launched in an 8-inch version. Samsung will supposedly supply the panels for these displays.The 10.1-inch tablet would boast the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, probably with 32GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM.
Microsoft has been bolstered by the successful sales and international pre-orders of the Surface Pro and that means we'll definitely see a Surface Pro 2 release date soon as a result - a device that will surely feature Intel's new Haswell processors.
The 128GB version sold out numerous times and there was a definite shortage of the tablet across the US and Canada in the weeks after launch and subsequently some shortages in Europe.
The Surface Pro 2 is also supposed to truly replace PCs by providing the Surface Dock, an accessory that allows more device connections, along with a Power Cover to supply extra battery juice.
As well as Windows 8.1, we could definitely see newer technologies in a forthcoming Surface, including NFC and LTE as well as, potentially, wireless charging.
We're also hoping Microsoft will be one of the first tablet makers to use the new high-speed, low-power 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard, especially as even the first Surface model has twin antennas.
We heard back in November that a new Xbox Surface could be on the cards and this could also be the smaller ARM-based Microsoft tablet we keep hearing about. As for when it will be here, analyst NPD DisplaySearch believes that a Microsoft 7.5-inch slate won't hit until 2014.
1st gen Surface Pro battery life
A big problem with the existing Surface Pro appears to be battery life, with around four hours reported for most. That's about half the battery life of Surface RT and the iPad, but while you might not be too surprised considering the Intel Core i5 that the Surface Pro runs, we'd point you in the direction of the six or more hours that many Ultrabooks can reach.Microsoft's leaks also show new Surface accessories and accessory colours, which could mean new charge covers for extra battery capacity.
In a two hour AMA (Ask Me Anything) session on Reddit, head of Surface Panos Panay talked about the Surface Pro in detail and had to defend the battery details against Redditors who suggested Panay - and fellow engineers who also appeared to be participating in the chat - were giving guarded answers drawn from marketing speak.
They had a point. Exhibit A is a key passage about the battery life and size, and the compromise that has been made. "If you compare [Surface] to say a MacBook Air, you will quickly see that pound for pound in battery size vs battery life, you will find optimizations that puts Surface best in its class.
"That said we picked a smaller battery to be sure we were able to give you the same performance and to keep it thin. This kept the weight under 2lbs. While these tradeoffs are challenges as much as they are opportunities, we think given the performance and experience you will be getting, it is an exciting product."
Put simply, the 42Wh Surface Pro battery had to be small and, while it's good for the size, there are compromises as a result.
Commenter Wiseasss wasn't appeased. "In every paragraph you insist that the computer has 'no compromises', and then turn around and talk about the compromises you made. What exactly is the difference, in your mind, between 'compromises' (which you say this product does not have) and 'tradeoffs' (which you say it does)?"
Microsoft Surface power saving
His thoughts echoed many comments that suggested the Surface Pro's battery life made it poor value up against competitor tablets and Ultrabooks. But Redditor marm0lade could see that physical size was the restriction, and that's how it had to be."Do you not think they are squeezing every ounce of battery life that they can get? It's a power hungry CPU with a tiny battery. But you need that CPU to be able to run desktop apps (do actual work). I have the Samsung Ativ tablet, which is running the same CPU as the Surface Pro, and I get 7 hours battery life. It, again, has a bigger screen/body which allows for a bigger battery."
You'd hope Microsoft could pack a bigger battery inside the Surface Pro, but judging by its responses here, there is precious little that will happen in the short term - it simply opted for power over longevity. After all, if it had wanted to offer a more frugal Intel solution, it would have opted for the Atom chip being used by others such as the Asus VivoTab.
Some respite was provided by the Surface engineers, who were surprisingly positive when questioned about whether an external battery could be on the way for Surface Pro. "That would require extending the design of the accessory spine to include some way to transfer higher current between the peripheral and the main battery. Which we did..."
Commenters were immediately enthusiastic. Here's Skaarg: "That response 100% sold me on the Surface. I'd been debating between the Surface Pro and other devices such as the Vaio Duo 11, Yoga 11S, etc. but knowing that an extended battery or keyboard with a battery is in the works makes me much more comfortable buying this device."
Microsoft Surface future connectivity
Panay also provided more detail about new connectors found on the Surface Pro's bottom dock, writing, "Wow - I'm pumped you caught that! We haven't announced what they are for but they aren't an accident!" he continued.
"At launch we talked about the 'accessory spine' and hinted at future peripherals that can click in and do more. Those connectors look like can [sic] carry more current than the pogo pins, don't they?"
So as well as a powered keyboard dock (the like of which is appearing on many other Windows 8 devices, could we also see other peripherals appear such as a battery pack or full dock? Only time will tell.
Surface Pro storage issues
Storage space - or lack of - was also a bone of contention during the AMA. According to Microsoft recently, the base model Surface Pro with 64GB of storage only comes with 23GB of free storage. That means Windows 8 Pro and whatever other default programs and apps come loaded on the tablet will leave just 36 per cent of the drive open for users.The 128GB model fares better, with 85GB (64.8 per cent) of the storage space left open for people to use. The Surface RT also went through some similar memory troubles. The 32GB Surface RT included just 16GB of storage when it arrived, and the 64GB version allowed users to work with 46GB of space.
Over the course of many tens of comments, Redditers were highly critical of the amount of space used up, comparing the device to others where free space was not as cited, but was still a smaller proportion of the storage space (the iPad or an Android tablet, for example).
Sag969 suggested they should have "cancelled the 64 GB model, sold the 128 GB model at $899 with no keyboard and the 128 GB model at $999 with a touch OR type cover" to alleviate the storage issues but still hit a reasonable price point.
An interesting titbit was revealed in the talk – that Office 2013 is actually pre-installed on Surface Pro - you just have to activate it. Asked if this was the case, the Surface team replied "Yes, that's exactly what it means :)."
On the 128GB version, the drive is formatted to 119 binary GB of which 89 GB is available. 10.4GB of that is taken up by Windows, while there's 2.3GB of Office 2013.
7.8 of those can be freed up by using the built-in tool to move the recovery data to a USB drive.
The Surface team unsurprisingly suggested that the answer to a lack of storage lay with extending space via the memory card slot, plugging in an external drive or using SkyDrive adding, "Windows does provide tools that allow you to free space by easily removing applications you are not using as well as move the recovery image to a USB thumbdrive."
"We decided to ship a Pro 64GB sku as it provides full Windows 8 and enough storage for a number of large application installs. It also provides you flexibility to extend storage should you need. If you plan to carry more personal items with you locally, our 128GB may be the better option for you."
"Available disk space is a design choice and a tough one to make as an engineering team," said the engineer, saying it was the result of "a clear set of tradeoffs to provide the customer more space while providing them the tools out of the box".
"There has [sic] also been questions about why including the recovery image by default. Ideally, you will never need your recovery image, however this is a choice we would prefer the customer to make vs. having the customer need the recovery image not realizing they needed to create one themselves."
Microsoft Surface display issues
During the chat the Surface team also cleared up how it came to ship the Surface Pro after RT. And the answer is surprisingly simple: "We started the Pro 3 months after we started Surface RT :-) That is exactly when we staffed the team to go and bring this product to life."The final point of interest from the AMA concerned the 1920 × 1080 ClearType display that comes with the Surface Pro. Primarily because Windows has been, well, a bit poor with 72dpi+ displays in the past.
As we've used an HD Asus Zenbook Prime with Windows 8 before, we can confirm that Windows 8 can play ball in this area, but the Surface Pro is reportedly not too good with this. But Windows 8 also can't scale differently on two displays, which is a problem for some.
About this, the Surface team said: "The Windows team is aggressively working on this feature to fix this for all high resolution Windows devices. We don't have a date yet to share, so sorry. But in the meantime here are some things I do to maximize my external monitor experience."
Ed from the Surface hardware development team also commented that DisplayPort on Surface Pro can drive an external monitor with resolutions up to 2560 x 1600p: "We wanted to give the most flexibility with monitors available today, and generally speaking most HDMI monitors are limited to 1080p." Microsoft has also published a separate engineering briefing on the Surface's display.
Naturally Microsoft will be working to fix these limitations, and it will be extremely interesting to see how Surface Pro performs in the market. After all, it's an extremely capable device by any metric, but while it isn't as powerful as many laptops, it is more expensive than them. It's also isn't as energy frugal and is more expensive than many tablets. Can Microsoft make it work? Or has the Surface RT just confused things? Roll on Surface 2.
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Updated: Microsoft announces Surface 2 with full HD on board
Microsoft has officially unveiled the Surface 2, its second go at creating a tablet that you'll actually want to buy.
The tablet is faster, thinner and lighter than its predecessor, and Microsoft says that productivity is the name of the game.
Surface 2 comes running Windows 8.1 RT, with a full 1080p HD ClearType display and souped-up CPU speed - an increase Microsoft describes as "dramatic". That's an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor keeping things nippy.
The tablet also comes with Office as standard, and as an added bonus Microsoft is giving customers free Skype calls to landlines in more than 60 countries for one year as well as 200GB of free Sky Drive storage for two years.
Silver fish
Microsoft thinks you'll get up to 10 hours of video playback out of the battery. As for cameras, we're looking at a 3.5MP front-mounted snapper and a 5MP lens on the back."We've added the Surface logo. You're using a Surface, you want people to know you're using a surface," Microsoft's Panos Panay said optimistically. You'll also be able to buy it in a swish silver finish.
Surface 2 pre-orders open on September 24, with the 32GB model starting from £359 in the UK and $449 in the US. A 64GB model will also be available and it will cost £439 in the UK and $549 in the US.
Although you can pre-order pretty soon, there's a bit of a wait for the actual tablet to materialise: the Surface 2 release date is set for October 22.
- Also announced today: the Microsoft Surface Pro 2
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Updated: New Surface tablets get docking station, battery-extending covers
Microsoft has taken the lid off several accessories for its Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets that were unveiled in New York earlier today.
They include a docking station compatible with both the original and new versions of the Surface Pro that turns them into a fully-fledged PC when docked by allowing an external monitor and other peripherals to be connected.
The docking station for Surface Pro's connectivity options include three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, and audio in and out. It also offers a MiniDisplay port that the company says will output a whopping 3840 x 2160 pixels resolution.
Microsoft says the dock will set you back $199.99 (around £124) and will be outed in early 2014.
Update: According to a Surface Team Ask Me Anything session on Reddit this afternoon, the docking station comes with a power supply so users can charge their Pro/Pro 2.
Got it covered
The Redmond-based company isn't stopping there - it's also introduced new versions of its popular Touch and Type keyboard covers that debuted with the original models.The company's new Type Cover 2 comes in purple, pink, blue and black. Best of all, Microsoft says that it's quieter to use and has been slimmed by 1mm to be almost as thin as the original Touch Cover.
Despite having gone on a diet, the company says that it's also more rigid, which it claims provides a better experience when a keyboard-toting Surface is sat on your lap.
In Touch
It's joined by a new Touch Cover keyboard, the Touch Cover 2, which measures 2.75mm thick and features backlit keys. Microsoft claims to have upped the accuracy of the keyboard, which was fairly hit-and-miss in its original form.Finally, Microsoft has outed a new Power Cover, which the company claims extends the battery life of the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 by up to 60%. It'll be available for $199.99 (around £124) when it lands in early 2014.
Other Surface accessories unveiled include a wireless adapter for its Type Covers, which lets you type from anywhere in the room using Bluetooth, and a USB car charger that provides more juice to the tablets.
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Gary Marshall: Every Hudl helps: How Tesco is aiming to become the next Amazon
The most interesting thing about Tesco's Hudl tablet isn't the tablet, which is a perfectly decent but unspectacular Android Jelly Bean device. It's what it represents: this is Tesco trying to be the new Amazon.
It's not the first time a supermarket has tried a cheap tablet. Asda did it two years ago, offering an Android 2.1 tablet for £99. But that was different: the tech wasn't as good. The market wasn't ready. And Asda was thinking like a traditional retailer when it needed to be thinking like Amazon.
That's what's different about the Hudl - Tesco's not going to make a lot on its tablets and Tesco doesn't care.
It's all part of the plan.
What Asda did wrong
Until now, retailers such as Asda and Tesco have been happily selling other people's hardware - so, for example, you might find Kindles in Tesco or iPads in Asda.The problem with that is that there isn't a great deal of money in it, because these days it's all about ecosystems of apps and entertainment. Think of it in terms of razors: retailers have been selling the razors, but they've been letting somebody else sell the blades - and it's the blades that make all the money.
Take Amazon, for example. It says it doesn't make any profit from its Kindle Fires, and we're sure that's true - but Amazon's goal isn't to make money from hardware. It wants to hook you, to ensure that your ebooks are Kindle ones, that your music comes from Amazon MP3, that your apps come from its App Store, that the next time you buy a book or a dustbin or bits for a BMW you'll buy it from Bezos.
Amazon's betting that if it sells at a loss now, it'll make the money back over the long term.
Asda didn't think of that, but Tesco did. It's unlikely to make much of a profit at £119, let alone at the ClubCard voucher-assisted price of £60. But Tesco doesn't care, because every Hudl is a Trojan Horse bearing Blinkbox and Clubcard TV and Tesco Bank and of course, shopping.
It's a classic loss leader, Tesco taking a hit on the tablets and making it back from selling you other things.
I can't help thinking the timing is interesting. Imminently, we'll hear about another mass-market tablet, or at least one that hopes to be. Microsoft will be unveiling the Surface 2.
Wouldn't it be funny if today's most important tablet turned out to be Tesco's one?
- What do we make of Tesco's tablet efforts? Read our hands on Tesco Hudl review to find out
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Updated: Surface Pro 2 comes to life as Microsoft's next-gen tablet flagship
Microsoft introduced the follow-up to the Surface Pro today, better known as the Surface Pro 2.
The tablet is said to have a 20% performance improvement over its predecessor, with a 50% graphics jump too. Microsoft Vice President of Surface Panos Panay said the device is, for all intents and purposes, a full-blown PC housed in the portable body of a tablet.
To keep on with the percentages, Panay boasted the Pro 2 is 95% faster than a laptop. And thanks to the Haswell chip knocking about inside, the Surface Pro 2 comes with a 75% battery boost over its predecessor.
Despite the added juice, Panay said the new tablet runs quieter and cooler than a normal PC.
Microsoft's next-gen operating system, Windows 8.1, alights inside. The Surface Pro 2 price kicks off at $899 (£719), available in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4GB of RAM. Bump it up to 8GB of RAM and the Pro 2 can come in 256GB and 512GB flavors.
The tablet along with the Windows RT 8.1-running Surface 2 will launch on Oct. 22 in 21 countries.
New additions
As was rumored, the new Surface comes rocking a two-stage kickstand. It's positioned at 22 degrees, though you can readjust to 55 degrees.But a new kickstand wasn't all Microsoft bestowed on its new Surface Pro. Microsoft unleashed a number of accessories, seven in total.
Keeping with the "2" times, both the Touch Cover and Type Cover are seeing a refresh. The Touch Cover 2 measures 2.75mm thick features backlit keys for those low-lit times. Like the slimmer Type Cover 2, it was given more rigidity as well. got a trim.
Pre-orders for both new covers start on Sept. 24. The Touch Cover 2 will retail for $119.99 and the Type for $129.99.
Microsoft also introduced a new cover, fittingly named the Power Cover. The P.C. (we couldn't resist) gives the Pro 2 2.5 times the battery life found in its internal battery. It will retail for $199.99, though its projected release date isn't until early 2014.
Pushing on the accessory front further still, Microsoft outted the Surface Pro docking station to quickly hook up to desktop PC peripherals. The docking station works with either the Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2 and can connect to either an external monitor, Ethernet, speakers or a power supply.
The docking station comes complete with three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0 slot, and a mini DisplayPort, plus Ethernet, Audio In, Audio Out and power hook-ups as well. It too isn't expected until early 2014, when it will sell for $199.99 (about £124).
Surface Pro 2 performance
Panay's message throughout the Surface Pro 2's debut was clear - this is a high performance machine designed to take on professional-level duties.To demo the new and improved Surface Pro 2's PC-like capabilities, Microsoft showed off some raw 6K data processing on the new tablet. With a resolution of resolution of nine times that of HD, the Pro 2 handled it with ease.
Microsoft is throwing 200GB of additional SkyDrive storage for two years with the purchase of a Pro 2, plus one year unlimited free voice calling to landlines through Skype and free Skype Wi-Fi at over two million global hotspots.
Stay tuned for our hands on review of the new Surface Pro 2!
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In Depth: Tesco Hudl vs Nexus 7 (2013) vs Amazon Kindle Fire HD vs Kindle Fire
The smaller-screened budget tablet market is becoming a hotbed of competition, with all the big guns looking to nab a space under the Christmas tree this year.
In the past few months we've seen all manner of tablet releases, the biggest coming from two of the biggest names in the tech world: Google and Amazon.
The new Nexus 7, the Kindle Fire HD and the Kindle Fire are the three biggest names in this market, with Apple's iPad Mini proving a little too expensive to compete at this price point. We also don't expect the upcoming iPad Mini 2 to battle it out at the lower end either.
So the news that Tesco is entering the fray with its new Tesco Hudl tablet (no, we're not convinced by the name either) could shake up the budget market - but as it has a low price, does that mean it will be a terrible experience?
Display
Budget tablets tend to come in with a smaller screen size than their higher-priced brethren, and in fact all four of the tablets being compared here come with 7-inch screens. The real difference in screens lays in the resolution.
The newly announced Tesco Hudl comes with a respectable HD screen, although not full 1080p, measured at 1440x900 pixels. The Amazon tablets don't fare so well, although the Kindle Fire HD does, somewhat unsurprisingly, come with a HD screen. It, however, is also not Full HD at 1280x800.
Bringing up the rear is its lower-specified brother, the Kindle Fire, which comes in at the bottom of the pack with a 1024x600 pixel display.
The resounding winner though is the new Google Nexus 7, with a Full HD display with 1920x1200 pixels, meaning a crystal clear pixel density of 323ppi.
Build / design
The Tesco Hudl is the most interesting out of the four tablets on offer here, as it kicks the idea of a solely black tablet to the kerb.
It comes in a total of 4 different colours: pink, blue, purple and yes, black, so you can easily tailor your tablet to fit whichever hipster outfit you choose. It also comes with a rubberised back, designed to aid the grip and handling.
As for the other three, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the designers had a Porsche mentality, knocking out iterations that follow almost standard tablet design rules.
The standard black bezel is offered on every tablet to allow for easy thumb resting, although is most noticeable on both of the Amazon models, the Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD.
Google has taken a slightly different tack, making the bezel thinner down the vertical sides (in portrait mode), with a thicker top and bottom.
In practice, we found this made the new Nexus 7 a little less comfortable to use in portrait, although was ideal for landscape viewing. The back of the Nexus also comes with a matt plastic finish, making it slightly harder to hold than its predecessor.
CPU
A decent tablet also needs a decent internal processor. Somewhat surprisingly, the Tesco Hudl doesn't disappoint. It comes with a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, although we have no word on how much RAM backs that up.The new Google Nexus 7 also comes with a quad-core processor, the Snapdragon S4 Pro from Qualcomm that also comes in at 1.5GHz. This is backed up with 2GB of RAM.
Both the Amazon tablets are less well-equipped, packing only dual-core OMAP processors measured at 1.2GHz. Again, there is no official word on RAM.
OS and UI
Unsurprisingly, all four tablets on offer come packing Google software underneath, as iOS is obviously limited to Apple's devices, and Windows 8 software has yet to make it to tablets of this price range.The Hudl comes with a stock version of Android 4.2.2, in a slightly similar way to the new Nexus 7. However Tesco has fitted the Hudl with a special launcher as well as a number of Tesco focussed applications and widgets to get people using all its services.
The new Nexus 7, like all of Google's own branded devices, comes with the latest version of the OS, which in this case is Android 4.3.
Updates to Android 4.4 KitKat have not been confirmed for either the Google or Tesco tablet, although we'd bet all our savings on that making it to the Google device.
Amazon make very little reference to Google's OS running on their tablets, the only mention being the line " Apps and games that you buy for your Kindle Fire HD can be used on other Android devices".
This is because Amazon has very heavily skinned Android, to the point it is unrecognisable, in a bid to push Amazon's content to the fore. This does mean access to the Google Play Store is forbidden, but Amazon's own offering is still fairly well stocked.
Storage and Price
Being budget tablets, the price is likely to be one of the key features in which tablet you opt for in the end.Tesco has announced that the Hudl will be available for just £119, although customers will get double value on Clubcard vouchers against the device.
This means that the Hudl could end up setting you back only £60, and essentially free as it comes from your built-up total. For this, you get 16GB of internal storage space, with a microSD slot for a further 32GB.
Google's new Nexus 7 doesn't come with microSD support, in the same way that the original Nexus 7 didn't. It comes in two sizes, with the 16GB option setting you back £199, and the 32GB costing £239. An LTE version is also available with 32GB storage at £299.
The Kindle Fire HD comes in somewhere in the middle, with prices starting at £159 for the 16GB option, with the 32GB option a further £20, at £179. The Kindle Fire is the cheapest of all 4 tablets, currently retailing at £99, although that only gets you 8GB of storage. Neither Kindle tablet comes with microSD support.
Services
With prices for all the tablets being decidedly lower than some of the higher end counterparts, there has to be some compromise. For these, the compromise is the push of each manufacturers' goods and services.
Amazon led the way with the Kindle eReader, and now Kindle tablets, in order to expose consumers to its variety of music, book and movie services. Tesco appears to have taken a rather large leaf out of the online retailers book as it copies the strategy to a lesser degree.
BlinkBox Movies and BlinkBox Music both come pre-installed as Tesco's subscription free services designed to allow users to rent movies and listen to music through Tesco channels.
Tesco has also put on a Clubcard and Clubcard TV app, as well as having a special launcher with a button in the toolbar, in order to keep you close to the Tesco world.
Google uses the Nexus range to push its own wares too, although this can be said across nigh on every Android device. Google's range of Play apps - the Play Store, Play Music, Play Books, Play Magazines and Play Movies - are designed to get users to purchase and rent from Google itself.
As mentioned, Amazon has led the way for goods promotion, and this is evident right from the off with the way it has set out the UI. The online retailer has managed to keep prices low by peddling its apps, books and Lovefilm movies through Fire devices, and this has also meant that Google Play apps are nowhere to be seen.
Interestingly, Amazon pumps special offers through sponsored screensavers on the lock screen. This is optional, although a further £10 is added to the purchase price to disable this.
Early Verdict
The budget tablet is one that is really on fire (forgive the pun). Tesco has a lot of work to do in order to convince customers that the Hudl is a worthy tablet, although it has all the right weapons to do so in a large and loyal user base and many stores to hawk the Hudl around in.The cheap price makes it instantly appealing, with it being something that many consumers might just put in their trolley on a whim, rather than a well thought out tech purchase. It also seems to have the right specifications to make sure that customers aren't left disappointed.
Tesco probably isn't too fussed about challenging the new Nexus 7, which it comes with a higher specification and higher price tag, but it will desperately want to chip away at the Fire's presence in the market, especially given Kindle Fire stands in Tesco stores. The Hudl could really give Amazon a run for its money.
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iPhone 5S and 5C sales hit 9 million in three days
Apple has announced that its latest iPhone launch is the most popular yet, with 9 million new iPhones sold in just three days.
According to Apple, the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C was a record breaker for the company and downloads of iOS 7 have been impressive too, clocking in at 200 million.
To compare, the iPhone 5 in the same time span last year managed a mere 5 million sales.
Speaking about the popularity of the new iPhones, Tim Cook said: "This is our best iPhone launch yet - more than nine million new iPhones sold - a new record for first weekend sales.
"The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5S, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone."
Touchy subject
While Apple hasn't announced what the split is between iPhone 5S and 5C sales, asking around the networks in the UK, TechRadar found that the demand for the iPhone 5C wasn't anywhere near as strong as for the more powerful and somewhat less colourful iPhone 5S.News of a successful iPhone launch for Apple couldn't have come at a better time. The company is currently battling a spot of negativity over its Touch ID technology which is said to have been infiltrated by hackers - although the outrage may be getting just a little over the top.
That said, it seems other manufacturers are still getting involved with biometrics on their phones, and it hasn't stopped Apple topping the sales charts worldwide.
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Hands-on review: Tesco Hudl
Let's be honest, it was only a matter of time before one of the big supermarkets launched an own-brand tablet, and Tesco has made that leap with the introduction of the Hudl.
The Hudl isn't targeted at the top end of the tablet market, so the likes of the iPad 4, Microsoft Surface and Sony Xperia Tablet Z are safe from Tesco's onslaught - for now.
Priced at a highly reasonable £119 the Tesco Hudl has its sights firmly set on the bottom end, an area which is currently dominated by the new Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle Fire HD and a host of less well-known brands.
Tesco claims it hasn't skimped on spec, with the Hudl sporting a HD 1440 x 900 display, 1.5GHz quad-processor, 16GB of internal storage, micro SD slot, rear 3MP camera, front 2MP camera and a microHDMI port as well as the standard microUSB offering.
We got our hands on the unassuming black variant of the Tesco Hudl, but it's also available in pink, purple and blue - although front-on you only see a thin strip of colour running round the circumference of the slate.
In terms of design the Hudl doesn't break any new ground. Its rubberised rear feels familiar while providing a decent level of grip, which will be vital when it's undoubtedly palmed off on children in an attempt by parents to shut them up.
Round the back you'll also find a dual speaker set up not that dissimilar to the Kindle Fire HD, plus a 3MP camera in the top corner.
Move round the front and the 7-inch display dominates, but there's also a sizeable bezel surrounding the screen which does add some extra width and height to the Hudl, but once again kid's mucky fingers will sit nicely here without affecting the screen.
The 2MP camera is housed just above the display if you're holding the Hudl in landscape, and that orientation seems to be the one Tesco is pushing with this tablet, as the buttons located on the right side are more accessible when held this way.
These plastic keys, consisting of a power/lock button and volume rocker, are easy to locate, but do require a decent amount of force to register when pressed.
Just below the keys is an open slot which houses microSD cards up to 32GB in size, while on top lives a microHDMI port, allowing you to hook the Hudl up to your TV for a big screen experience - be it watching a movie, browsing photos or playing a game.
Android fans will be pleased to hear that the Tesco Hudl rocks up running Jelly Bean 4.2.2, with native Google apps including Google Play, Maps and Gmail all present and correct.
We initially had high hopes for the performance of the Hudl when we heard it was packing a quad-core processor, but in reality it's a little bit of a let down and we found it wasn't even as fluid as 2012's Nexus 7, let alone the new one.
That's not to say the Tesco Hudl is slow, but it just takes that split second longer to swipe through homescreens, open up the application list and launch apps.
If this is your first tablet experience you won't notice this, but come from an iPad, Galaxy Tab or Nexus and the Hudl irks.
Although there's a pure Android experience here for you to enjoy, it hasn't stopped Tesco from adding its own bits and pieces to the Hudl.
The Hudl comes with several Tesco apps pre-installed including three applications from the video streaming service BlinkBox, which is now owned by the supermarket giant.
These are BlinkBox Movies, BlinkBox Music and Clubcard TV. The two former apps are relatively well established with Movies offering over 10,000 films in its library, while Music boasts a collection of over 10 million tracks.
Clubcard TV is less impressive and although it's a free service for anyone who has a Tesco ClubCard, it suffers from a lacklustre line up of movies and TV shows.
You'll also find Tesco's Groceries and Store Locator apps on the tablet when you fire it up, allowing you to order your week's shopping from the comfort of the sofa, or find your nearest branch so you can quickly nab a pint of milk.
There are associated widgets to go with most of these apps, plus one which shows you your current Clubcard points. None a particularly useful or feature-filled, and you can always quickly delete the widgets if they're getting in the way.
If all those apps and widgets weren't enough, in the bottom left of the Android toolbar you'll notice a "T" icon - a link to the Tesco launcher.
While this sounds exiting it's actually just a screen with links to Tesco's various services including all the ones we've already mentioned plus Tesco Bank, Tesco Mobile and its F&F clothing brand.
It doesn't feel like there's a great deal of value add from these additional options, but those who are heavily invested into Tesco's services will surely benefit from having all the apps pre-installed - although those people may be few and far between, and certainly not hardcore tablet fans.
Chrome comes as standard on the Hudl thanks to the Android Jelly Bean innards, and the dual-band Wi-Fi gave us a relatively strong connection in a crowded event space.
Desktop sites loaded in good time, but once again the Hudl isn't the fastest tablet out there, but at least the HD display meant text was sharp and images clear - if a little washed out.
There's no 3G option as the Tesco Hudl is available as Wi-Fi only, so unless there's a hotspot in your vicinity you won't be internetting on the go.
Fire up the camera application and once again there's lag to be witnessed. Press the shutter key and there's a good second or two wait until the Hudl is ready to take another photo.
Auto and tap-to-focus are both present, although there's no flash on board so shooting in low light is off limits.
Photo quality is average at best, but we weren't exactly expecting great things from the 3MP and 2MP cameras. Shots were generally quite grainy and colours appear muted.
Tesco hasn't revealed the size of the battery it's stuck inside the Hudl, but it claims you'll be able to get nine hours of video playback from a full charge - we'll put that to the test in our full Hudl review.
Early verdict
The Tesco Hudl is a capable, if uninspiring, tablet and we're pretty certain it will sell by the bucket load purely due to its price tag, family focus and the prominent position it will be given in the firm's stores and online presence.Would we recommend the Hudl? Well if you're on a tight budget the Hudl is a serviceable option allowing you to browse the web, check your emails, stream movies and listen to music without issue.
If you can stretch to an extra £80 however we'd say go for the new Nexus 7 - you won't regret the upgrade.
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HP and Nvidia converge to tackle high performance computing problems
HP and Nvidia have opened a new research lab to help software vendors and developers tackle high performance computing (HPC) challenges using the latest technology from the two companies.
Located in Grenoble, France, the lab's HPC resources are built around a dedicated HP Converged Infrastructure that's based on an HP Cluster Platform solution. It includes 10 HP ProLiant SL250s, SL270s and ML350p Gen 8 servers featuring integrated Nvidia Tesla GPUs.
Combining server CPUs with GPUs is what Nvidia dubs 'GPU Computing', which is used to improve application performance by offloading compute-intensive parts of the app to the GPU while the remainder of the code still runs on the CPU.
CPUs consist of a few cores optimised for serial processing, while GPUs consist of thousands of smaller, more efficient cores designed for parallel performance, according to Nvidia.
Optimising apps
HP says that the labs will let users optimise their HPC applications by carrying out proofs of concept (PoCs), benchmarks and other testing activities with HP systems based on high performance, energy-efficient Nvidia GPU accelerators.Users can also interact with large, complex datasets locally through a HP Z820 Workstation or remotely using HP ProLiant WS460x Gen8 Workstation Blade servers.
This is made possible through the use of Nvidia GRID GPU technology, which allows users to fine tune their applications using GPU accelerations remotely by working on virtualised machines accessed over the network.
Philippe Trautmann, EMEA sales director HPC for HP, said that the goal of the collaborative centre was to enable solution improvements and spur the adoption of HP systems based on NVIDIA Tesla GPUs for HPC.
He said: "HPC systems require huge amounts of compute resources to achieve their expected performance, as well as the expertise to integrate them."
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Exclusive: Ex-iPlayer chief: The smart TV market is not in a good way
The former head of iPlayer Daniel Danker has told TechRadar that the smart TV market is suffering because it's become too complicated.
Now chief product officer at Shazam, Danker revealed that when he worked on iPlayer the service was launched on to hundreds of TV makes but this strength in numbers couldn't compete with just a handful of mobile devices.
"Connected TV as a category is a very complicated one," noted Danker. "I brought iPlayer to over 650 different devices, the majority of which were connected TVs.
"But I can tell you a small handful of devices, the iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy S2 and S3, those three devices offered more bang for your buck than 600 different TV models that we had worked with.
"The connected TV market is not in a good way today."
Numbers game
When asked about his move from iPlayer to Shazam four months ago, Danker explained that it may have seemed a surprising decision but Shazam's numbers convinced him to leave the BBC."Coming from the BBC and iPlayer, a lot were surprised, what with iPlayer being a household name," said Danker.
"But, these are the facts: we have over 70 million monthly active users and 350 million users. What's interesting is the rate that Shazam has grown. We are adding about 2.5 million users every single week and that is astonishing.
"When you think about numbers like that for a global product, it is huge. And that is one of the reasons I left."
Live and let die
Danker joining Shazam is the latest signs that the service is investing heavily in television. Last September, Shazam's audio-recognition technology has been used in TV and adverts in the US.Given Danker's views on smart TV, however, it is unlikely we will see Shazam integrated into televisions but we will see the app feature heavily in the TV experience.
"I think less about connected TV and much more about what Shazam can deliver to television across a variety of times," he said.
"Many of the apps that try and create a companion experience for live TV - they depend on it being live.
"If you Shazam a show or an ad when it is live or when it aired a week ago, you get the same quality of experience. That's important as we don't want to force users using our product when they are watching live TV only."
- Head over to TechRadar's exclusive interview with Daniel Danker to read more about Shazam and its push into television
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Updated: Latest iOS 7 bug allows calls to be made from a locked iPhone
Update: This problem appears to have been fixed in the new iOS 7.0.1 update, as tests have shown that the flaw cannot be replicated any more.
Original story below...
An iOS 7 user has discovered a worrying security flaw within the software, which enables calls to be made while the iPhone is locked.
The flaw can be exploited using the emergency call screen that can be accessed from the lock screen. Once the phone's keypad is open, any number can be dialled by repeatedly tapping the call button.
In a video shot by iPhone users Karam Daoud and passed onto Forbes, tapping the call button numberous times causes the screen to go black and the Apple logo to appear.
After that, the call to any number, including international and premium phone numbers is completed as if the phone were unlocked.
Any number, any time
"Once the black screen appeared, it was pretty clear that this is a bug," says Daoud from Ramallah in Palestinian. "You can dial a number anywhere, any time."He also claims to have repeated the trick on older iPhones running older versions of iOS and enjoyed further success, so it appears the problem is not confined to iOS 7.
The bug is the second security flaw uncovered within iOS 7 since its release in midweek. The first lockscreen vulnerability allowed access to the device's photos and email. However, that required a much more complex combinations of presses and swipes.
Apple says it is working on a fix for the first issue, but is yet to comment on the more recent discovery.
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